Brattice



une 24, i934). v. T. BERNER BRATTICE Filed Feb. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENIOR rnon 7.' 5er/7er BY m //Ww/ A TTORNE )'15 Patented June 24,1930 VER-NGN T. BER-NER, 0F BAY, ARIZONA BRATTICE Application filedFebruary 9,V 1929. Serial No. 338,307.

This invention relates to an improved construction of a portable andadjustable knock-down brattice or partition for quickly and effectivelyclosing and. sealing openings, such as tunnels, drifts, shafts, andother openings in mines; liues in smelters and other industrial plants;and openings or passages of similar cross-section in buildings orstructures of any kind.

The general purpose of such closing and sealing of openings, by Whatevermeans eli'ected, is the control of ventilation or the prevention of thepassage of undesirable air currents carrying smoke, dust, or gases. Theaccomplishment of this purpose is of utmost importance in the lighting,control, and extinguishing` of fires in mines, and in the safeguardingof life and property endangered by such lires. During'mine lires, someof the results which can be accomplished, with greater or less success,by intelligent placing of canvas brattices, Wooden,

bulkheads, barricades of loose rock or dirt, and makeshift stoppings ofvarious kinds, are the following: The isolation of a burning area fromthe balance of the mine Workings, or the restrict-ion of the area towhich the fire can spread; the smothering of the i'ire by cutting olfthe passage of fresh air to the burning area g the prevention of theentry of smoke and dangerous gasesf-the products of combnstiom-to partsof the mine Where men are Working, or to the routes of exit throughwhich men must pass in escaping from the danger Zone; the exclusion ofioisonous O'ases and the eonservinoV of the CJ b supply of good air inblind headings, Where entra-pped miners may be forced to take refuge;the safeguarding` of rescue parties, and the facilitating of the rescueWork.

The principal object of my invention is to make possible theaccomplishment of all the results above mentioned easily, quickly, andeffectively.

Further and more particular object-s of the invention are:

To provide a strong, light, portable brattice that can be carried to theplace Where it is to be erected and can be erected by one man when morehelp is not available;

To provide a brattice that can be erected by tivo menmore quickly thanany other'type of brattice can be erected irrespective of the number ofmen employed in its erection;

To provide a brattice which is adaptable to any shape or irregularity ofopening, and that by varying the sizes of its various parts or byincreasing the number of units in the supporting frame Work` thereof,lmay be adapted to anysize of opening which may reasonably be expectedto be encountered;

To provide a brattice that requires no special skill for its erection,nor any tools or accessories other than a source of air or gas underpressure, such as a pneumatic pump or a small tank of compressed air orgas;

To provide a brat-tice Whose erection involves a. minimum risk of'injuryto those erectingv it, since the Work of erection does not requiretheuse of hammers, axes and other tools in restricted space under poorlight or in the presence of smoke, and frequently with the Workerhampered by tire helmets and breathing apparatus, as is true with thebrattice constructions now in coinmon use;

To provide a brattice that includes, as an integral part of itself,every material necessary for vmaking a partition or seal Which ispractically air tight; and

To provide a brattice that, When it has served its purpose in one place,may be quickly and easily Vremoved Without damage to itself, and may beused again and again thereafter as occasion may require.

The improve-d form of brattice according to my invention comprisesessentially a fleX- ible curtain member of farbic or the like ofsutlicient size to form a partition extending entirely across the areaof any opening in which it may be desired to use the same,` and adaptedto lit at its edges against the Walls of said opening, inflatable,flexible, tubnlarL sealing means secured to or mounted adjacent theedges of said curtain member, and an adjustable supporting frame-Workadapted to beplaced in the opening to be closed'and having a pluralityof branches or arms which may be adjusted and extended so as to engagethe edges of the curtain memicoV Llll

ber and the tubular sealing mea-ns at a plurality of points suiicientlyclose together to hold the same outwardly in substantially tightengagement with the walls of the opening.

The device also comprises other important and advantageous featureswhose construction and functions will be apparent from the followingdescription of an exemplary form `of the invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate such an improved form of bratticeand referring thereto:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the brattice as mounted in position in a.mine tunnel.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the flexible curtain member with thetubular sealing means secured adjacent an edge thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective'view on an enlarged scale of a portion of theedge of the curtain member with the'flexible sealing means and thepacking means secured thereto.

Fig. et is a Side elevation of the adjustable standard of thesupportingframe work.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation, and Fig. 7 a plan view, of the transverseyoke or bridge of the supporting frame work.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation, and Fig. 9 a plan view, of one of thespreader' strips or adjustable arms of the frame work.

Fig. 10 is a section on line lO-lO in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 in Fig. 1.

The curtain member shown at C in Fig. 2 may be made of canvas or otherbrattice cloth or in general of any fabric or other substantiallyimpervious, flexible material of suitable strength. Said curtain memberis shown as being generally conical in shape with its circumference atthe larger end somewhat greater than that of the opening to be sealed.Adjacent the edge of the curtain, for about three fourths of itscircumference, or in general for a suflicient length to extendthroughout the top and side walls of the opening to be closed, theinflatable, tubular sealing means, shown inl this case as comprising arubber tube 5, is secured, as for example by carrying the edge et thecurtain material around this inflatable member as shown at and sewingthe turnedback portion to the main portion of the cur tain as indicatedat 31, thus encasing said inflatable member. The rubber tube 5 is closedat each end but is provided, preferably near one end, with valved inlettube 19 similar to the inlet tube of the inner tube of a tire, throughwhich it can be inflated by means of a tire pump or other penun'laticpump or from containers filled with gas or air under pressure.

A roll or elongated packing member 1 of cotton, sponge rubber or otheryielding packing material, preferably encased in a casing 1 of cloth,felt, or the like, and a fiap 2 of to slide cloth, Jfelt or the like,are also preferably sewed or otherwise secured to the edge portion ofthe curtain member as at 3Q. The purpose of the packing member 1 is toadjust itself to conform with the smaller irregularities of the surfaceat the top and sides of the opening when the tubular sealing member isinflated, while the purpose of the iiap 2 is to provide a still furthermeans for :filling any small opening which may remain after the sealingmember' is fully infiated.

At the top of the curtain, and substantially midway between the ends ofthe sealingl member and close .to the sealing member. is a metal eyelctor grommet 18 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The adjust-able supporting framework may comprise a verticallyadjustable or extensible upright support or standard 'l' consisting, forexan'iple, of 'two elongated members 8 and 9 ot hardwood or othersuitable material slidably held together by the metal straps 10 and 11.The metal strap l1 may be secured to the member as by'means of bolts orpins and may be provided with inwardly bent extremities 8G embracing thesides of the other iframe nuunber 8, while the other strap 10 may besimilarly secured to the member 8 and slidably embrace the member 9,.vhereby1 sai d members are held together, but are free longitudinallyupon cach other. Any suitable means may be provided for holding themembers of. the adjustable standard iii adjusted pos.ion. may be mountedin al bracket 3? at the lower end of the member 9, said pin passingthrough an opening 238 in said member and being adapted to oiigagc atits inner end in any one of a plurality of vertically spaced openings 13in the member 8. A spring 8f) may be provided between bracket 37 and acollar or shoulder 40 on pin l2, tending to hold said pin inwardly inthe opening`4 13 in which it is inserted. The frame member 8 is shown asmounted upon base 15 y mea-ns of a jack screw lil; turning loosely linsaid base and threaded into the lower portion of the member 8, said jackscrew being provided with the usual arms l2 for manual operationthereof.

The standard members 8 and 9 are each 'provided with a plurality ofvertically spaced projecting studs or pins 3 and 3 respectively, whichare shown asy comprising threaded studs threadedly mounted in openingse3 in the respective members 8 and 9 and with their heads recessed intothe enlarged openings 13 and 13 in the respectiveL members 8 and 9. Theouter ends of said studs project beyond the faces of said frame memberssiifiiciently to permit mounting of the remaining parts of thesuj'iporting framework thereon. Said otheparts of the supportingframework may comprise a crosspiece or yoke Ll5 adapted to be adjustably mounted on the up- For example, a pin 12` CTI llll

right support 7, and a plurality of bars or spreader strips 46 adaptedto be adjustably secured to said crossspiece and to said uprightsupport.

The cross-piece is shown as provided, forthe purpose o'l2 adjustablymounting the same on the upright support, with a plurality ofhorizontally spaced pairs of open ings 20, the openings of each pairbeing spaced apart vertically by a distance corresponding to thevertical spacing of the studs 3 or 3 on the standard. In the particularconstruction shown the studs 3 on member 9 are all spaced apart equallyand the openings 20 of each pair, on cross-piece 45, are spaced to litover any pair of adjacent studs on this member, while the studs 3 onmember S are shown as being spaced relatively turther apart at the upperportion and relatively closer together at the lower portion, but it willbe understood that any suitable spac ing of these studs may be provided,and that the openings 2O on the cross-piece may be spaced to lit overthe studs on either ofthe members 8 or 9. The cross-piecey L15 is alsoshown as provided with a plurality of projecting studs or pins 4 spacedhorizontally thereon and secured thereto in any suitable manner.

The spreader strips 4G are preferably made up in several diilerentlengt-hs so as to tit different sized openings and also for use atdifferent portions of the t 'ameworlc Each et these strips is providedwith a longitudinal slot 21 adapted to iit over any one oi the studs 3,3', or 4l on either the standard members 8 or 9 or cross-piece 45 so asto bc longitudinally adjustable or outwardly eX-l tensible thereon. Saidstuds may be provided with wing nuts l? by means of which said spreaderstrips, as well as cross-piece i-5, may be secured in adjusted position.

At the outer end of each spreader strip is provided a metal strap 22,secured thereto in any suitable manner, and formed in the shape of ahook as shown in Figs. 9 and 11 so as to engage the edge of the curtainmember and the tubular sealing member and hold the same outwardlyagainst the top and sides of the opening. A similar metal strap 17 isalso provided at the top oi the standard member 9, said strap being alsoformed as a hook, as shown in Figs. l and 10, Yfor the purpose abovementioned. A pin or stud 16 is also provided at the top of said standardmember, for engaging in the eyelet or grom Inet 18 in the curtainmember.

The general procedure in erecting the above described brattice is asfolows: The curtain member C is i'irst laid down or spread out on thefloor Ol ot' the opening or passage to be sealed, said opening beingindicated at O, and the upright support or standard 7 is placed thereonin vertical position, with its base 15 at approximately the midpoint ofthe lower edge of the curtain member, such mid-point being convenientlydesignated by a suitable mark on the curtain member, such as the mark a@shown in Fig. 2. The eyelet or grommet 18 at the midpoint o'l the top otthe curtain isslipped over the pin 16 in the top of the standard, withthe hook 17 engaging beneath the edge portion of the curtain member andthe tubular sealing member encased thereby, as shown in Fig. 10. rlhepin 12 is then withdrawn and movable member 9 of the standard is slidupwardly until its upper end comes close to the roof or top O2 ot theopening, and is then iiXed at approximately this height by inserting thepin 12 into the nearest of the holes 13. he jack screw 14e is thenscrewed up by means of arms 42 so as to raise the standard 7 until itsupper end engages the top of the opening, as shown in Fig. 10, so as tosecurely wedge said standard in position between the top and bottom ofthe opening.

Thecross-piece or yoke 15 is then secured ata suitable height on thestandard, byvslip ping a pair of openings 2O over a suitable pair ofstuds 3 on the member 9, it being obvious that by suitably selecting theopenings 20 and the studs 3,'any desired position ot said cross-piece,either vertically or horizontally may be secured. Said cross-piece isthen fastened rigidly in position as by wing nuts 47. j

The various spreader pieces 46 oi suitable lengths are then placed uponany desired ones-et' the studs 3 and 3 on the standard and the studsllon the cross-piece, and the hooks 22 at the outer ends thereof broughtinto proper engagement with the edge portion of the curtain member andthe tubular seal ingmeniber as shown for example in Fig. 11, and eachspreader piece is then adjusted outwardly by means of the slot 21 untilthe tubular sealing member 5 and packing member 1 is held firmly againstthe side or top of the openi-nga-t the extremity of that particularspreader piece, which is then secured in this position by a wing nut 17.In this manner the tubular sealing member and the packing member, aswell as the edges of the curtain member, are forced outwardly ataplurality *of points against the walls ot the opening and are quicklymade to conform with the irregularities, depressions or projections inthe sides or top of the opening.

The tubular sealing member is then inflated through the inlet tube' 19as above described, so as to provide sutcient pressure therein to forcethe portions thereotl between the ends of the spreader strips, and thepacking member carried thereby, outwardly into tight engagement withsubstantialy the entire length Aof the sides and top of the opening. nysmall ren'iaining openings may then be quickly and easily closed bystuffing into them the adjacent portions of the -flap2. It then remainsonly to pile dirt, loose rork or any handy material upon the bottom ofthe curtain member, as indicated forexample at 50 in Fig. l, and thesealing olf of the opening is then complete.

t will be evident thatl the erection of this brattice as above describedcan be easily and quiclrlv effected by two men, and inay-in fact be doneby one man with no difficulty, if required. lt is also evident that thesame is readily adjustable to different sized openings and to fitirregularities in the sides and top of the openings, and that when inosition a substantialy gas tight seal is provided. Fui-- thermore, theentire apparatus may be quiele ly and easily dismounted and carried toany desired position for erection.

I claim:

l. A brattice comprising a flexible curtain member, an inflated flexibletubular member engaging an edge portion of said curtain member, and anadjustable supporting frame adapt-ed to hold said flexible tubularmember and the side and top edge portions of the curtain memberoutwardly against the corresponding walls of an opening, the bottom edgeportion of said curtain member being adapted to rest upon the bottom ofsaid opening so as to complete the closure thereof.

2. A brattice comprising a flexible curtain member, inflatable Hexibletubular means engaging said curtain member adjacent an edge thereof andextending throughout a considerable portion of the length of said edge,and an adjustable supporting frame having outwardly adjustable membersadapted to engage said flexible tubular member at a plurality of pointsdistributed throughout the length thereof.

3. A brattice comprising a flexible curtain member, an inflatabletubular member secured to said curtain member adjacent an edge thereof,and adjustable supporting means adapted to hold said inflatable tubularmember and the edge of the curtain member outwardly against the walls ofan opening.

Zl. A brattice comprising a flexible curtain member, an inflatabletubular member secured to said curtain member adjacent an edge thereof,means adapted to hold the edges of said curtain member outwardly againstthe walls of an opening, and a yielding packing member secured to theoutside of thel curtain member adjacent said inflatable tubular memberso as to form a seal between the edges of the curtain member, togetherwith said inflatable tubular member, and the walls of the opening.

5. A brattice comprising a flexible curtain member, an inflatabletubular member secured to said curtain member adjacent an edge thereof,a yielding packing member secured to the outside of the curtain memberadjacent said edge thereof, and an adjustable supporting frame adaptedto engage said edge of the curtain member and hold the sama-together.with said tubular member and said packing member, outwardly against thewalls of an opening.

6. A brattiee comprising a flexible curtain member, an inflatableflexible tubular member secured to an edge portion of said curtainmember, a sealing ila-p also secured to said edge portion of saidcurtain member, and an adjustable supporting frame engaging said edgeportion of the curtain mem ber and the flexible tubular member so as tohold the same outwardly against the Walls 0f an opening, said flap beingadapted t0 close any small openings remaining between said edge portionof the curtain member and said walls of the opening.

7. A brattice comprising a curtain member extending substantiallyentirely across an opening, an inflated tubular sealing member adjacentthe alge of said curtain member at the top and sides of said Opening, avertically extensible standard wedged between the top and bottom of saidopening, the upper end of said standard engaging the edge portion ofsaid curtain member and saidI sealing member to hold the same inengagement with the top of the opening, and outwardly extensiblesupporting members adjustably mounted on said standard and cngaging theedge portion of said curtain member and said sealing member and holdingthe same in engagement with the top and side walls of the openingadjacent the outer ends of said supporting members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day ofJanuary, 1929.

VERNON T. BERNEB.

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